Hibiscus plant named ‘White Treasure Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus plant named ‘White Treasure Wind’, characterized by its semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate for container production; freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; single white-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; good postproduction and garden performance; and tolerance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘WHITE TREASURE WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘White Treasure Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with uniform plant habit appropriate for container production, early and freely flowering habit, desirable flower color, good garden performance and resistance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. in 2014 of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Luau Pink Paki’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Caribbean Pink’, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. on Aug. 11, 2015.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. since November, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘White Treasure Wind’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘White Treasure Wind’ as a new and distinct Hibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit appropriate         for container production.     -   2. Freely branching habit, dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.     -   5. Single white-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers.     -   6. Good postproduction and garden performance.     -   7. Tolerance to Bacterial Leaf Spot.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Luau Pink Paki’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of ‘Luau Pink Paki’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in plant habit         than plants of ‘Luau Pink Paki’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more uniform in flowering         habit than plants of ‘Luau Pink Paki’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are white in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Luau Pink Paki’ are light pink in         color.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus last about two to three         days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Luau Pink Paki’ last about         one day.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, ‘Caribbean Pink’. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ primarily from plants of Caribbean Pink’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Caribbean Pink’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Caribbean Pink’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are white in color         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Caribbean Pink’ are pink in color.     -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus last about two to three         days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Caribbean Pink’ last about         one day.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Ivory Wind’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,353. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of ‘Ivory Wind’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more vigorous than plants of         ‘Ivory Wind’.     -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus are larger and whiter         in color than flowers of plants of ‘Ivory Wind’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Hibiscus last about two to three         days whereas flowers of plants of ‘Ivory Wind’ last about one         day.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘White Treasure Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘White Treasure Wind’ showing developing flower buds and a fully developed flower.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and in 24-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Fort Worth, Tex. under cultural practices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production. During the production of the plants in Texas, day temperatures ranged from 35° C. to 40° C., night temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 35° C. and light levels ranged from 5,000 to 7,500 foot-candles. Plants were pinched two times and were nine months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘White Treasure     Wind’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Luau Pink             Paki’, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Caribbean             Pink’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About four to             five weeks.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About five to six weeks.         -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; typically white to light             brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on             substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen,             semi-upright and uniformly mounded plant habit; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral             branches potentially develop at every node; pinching             enhances lateral branch development; dense and bushy             appearance.         -   Plant height.—About 39 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 48 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 28 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.8 cm to 2.4 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright to somewhat outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster, immature.—Smooth; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, mature.—Woody and slightly rough; matte.         -   Color, immature.—Close to 144A.         -   Color, mature.—Close to 199A and 199B. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.         -   Length.—About 7.2 cm to 7.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.3 cm to 6.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate with cordate tendencies.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Smooth, glabrous; glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous;             semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than             NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between             147A and 146A. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close             to between 147A and 139A; venation, close to 147A. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to between 147A and             146A; venation, close to 146A to 146B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 2.1 cm to 2.4 cm. Diameter: About             3 mm. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A.             Color, lower surface: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded single             flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely             flowering habit with about three or five flowers per             terminal; flowers face mostly upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower             naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of             warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.         -   Flower longevity.—Depending on temperature and water status,             flowers typically last about two to three days on the plant;             flowers persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 10.75 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:             Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist             flower bud drop during shipping. Length: About 1.8 cm.             Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color: Close to 146A.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of a single whorl of             five petals that are fused at base; petals imbricate.             Length: About 7.1 cm. Width: About 6.1 cm. Shape: Broadly             spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             slightly undulate. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy and towards the base,             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Glabrous; veins             prominent; semi-glossy. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to 157C; towards the base,             close to 53A; venation, similar to lamina colors, close to             157C and 53A. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 157A and 157B; venation, similar to lamina colors,             close to 157A and 157B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals in a single whorl fused into             a tubular star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.75 cm. Width:             About 1.2 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; waxy; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A to 146B.         -   Epicalyx.—Quantity and arrangement: About seven in a single             whorl fused at base. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About             4 mm. Shape: Narrowly lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly glossy. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.75 cm. Diameter: About 2.5 mm.             Aspect: Upright to slightly outward. Strength: Strong,             flexible. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; slightly             glossy. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 55 to 65 per flower. Filament length: About 3 mm.             Filament color: Close to 157C. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther             length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 14A. Amount of             pollen: If present, scarce. Pollen color: Close to 14A.             Gynoecium: Pistil number: One per flower. Pistil length:             About 6.75 cm. Style length: About 5.8 cm. Style texture and             luster: Smooth, glabrous; waxy; semi-glossy. Style color:             Close to 157A to 157B. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,             rounded. Stigma color: Close to 6A. Ovary color: Close to             between 154D and 11D.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not             been observed on plants of the new Hibiscus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been     observed to be tolerant to Bacterial Leaf Spot (Pseudomonas     cichorii). To date, plants of the new Hibiscus grown under Florida     production conditions have not been shown to be resistant to pests     and other pathogens common to Hibiscus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘White Treasure Wind’ as illustrated and described. 